Celebrating Life on National Cancer Survivor's Day

Each year on June 4th we celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day. It’s a day for survivors, their friends, and families to celebrate life!

Cancer touches the lives of just about everyone you come in contact with, and we are so grateful that one of our team members recently won her fight against cancer. The following is her incredible story of perseverance and positivity.

Each year on June 4th we celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day. It’s a day for survivors, their friends, and families to celebrate life!

Cancer touches the lives of just about everyone you come in contact with, and we are so grateful that one of our team members recently won her fight against cancer. The following is her incredible story of perseverance and positivity.

We were here when our very own, Faith Williams, (Manager of our Newsletter Department) first noticed that something was wrong. She had found a very small lump on the lower left side of her neck, but assumed that it was a swollen lymph node, as it was allergy season. However, after two weeks with no signs of improvement, she went to the doctor. It was then that she received her diagnosis. She was diagnosed with both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Faith then began her journey to beat cancer. She went through a incredibly difficult treatment that lasted nearly 8 months. Not a single day went by during this 8 month time period that was easy by any means. “Each day you wake up terrified,” Faith recalls her doctors encouraging her - always saying, “This treatment is a marathon.”

Each day of treatment brought new challenges - from the complete depletion of energy to the devastation of losing her hair - Faith persevered. She always remembered that “things could always be worse.” Faith says she was lucky to have such an amazing support system. Her husband, Jim, was there for her no matter what. He never missed an appointment, not even a check up. Faith also told us how thankful she was for social media- from her diagnosis, through treatment, and even after her recovery. As she shared her updates on social media she found even more support - support which really helped her get through her last few treatments. She reminds us that “even in the darkness there is always light.” She also talked about the healing powers of animals. Her bull dog, Zoey, (an office favorite - you can see her featured often in our Puppy Tuesday updates) is quite rambunctious - but she was calm and cuddly when Faith needed it the most. With all of this support - and motivation to be there for her son, Caleb, and be able to get back showing her horses - she kept fighting hard each day.

Faith finished her final treatment in September of 2017 - She did it. She (as she likes to say) kicked cancer’s ass! Now, 9 months later, Faith is a changed woman. Cancer affects everyone -- but cancer just made Faith even more positive than she was before.

“You definitely look at life differently when you go through it (it being cancer). I definitely appreciate things more -- I’ve gotten that “hippie attitude.”

Faith doesn’t have anything planned specifically for National Cancer Survivor’s Day but she is so thankful that she is able to do so many things she missed out on during her treatment. Even the littlest things are huge triumphs. The things that most people would easily take for granted are huge milestones for a cancer survivor. Faith just recently got approval from her doctor to be able to color her hair, and she is hoping that next year she should be able to get a survivor tattoo - that will symbolize her fight against and overcoming cancer. She is also planning a vacation with her family and to show her horses later this summer. She says, “it’s important to live life to the fullest.”

Faith also plans to give back by helping others going through treatment. She is always open to share her story, and offer words of advice from her own experience. The fight against cancer is not over - but with a positive attitude and people like Faith in this world we are reminded that we can overcome the unthinkable, and we should always celebrate life.

Have you or someone you know been affected by cancer? Take today to celebrate life! Learn more about this day of celebration at: http://www.ncsd.org/

About the author

Chris is a hopeless Technology Fanatic, an Inbound & Outbound Marketing Expert as well as a Trusted I.T. Advisor, Web, Graphics & Software Designer. When he's not running Directive and JoomConnect he's probably sharpening his skills as an Amateur Photographer and Filmmaker. Chris lives with his wife Charlotte and their 2 sons in Upstate NY. Visit his photography site at www.directivestudios.com.